Pierce County, WA

Description

This position is hybrid.

Position Summary

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

Shape the Future of Parks & Recreation as an Administrative Program Manager 1 (APM1)

As the APM 1, you’ll be at the heart of shaping how our parks and recreation services are delivered across the community. This isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about strategy. You’ll help design and implement the financial and operational roadmap that guides our department’s long-term impact.

What Makes This Role Special?

• Strategic Influence: You’ll play a key role in planning and decision-making, influencing how, when, and where services are offered. Your insight will directly shape the Parks Department’s priorities and resource allocation.
• Systems Leadership: You’ll dive deep into our eleven diverse funding sources—general, enterprise, special revenue, and construction—and help us make smarter, more transparent decisions using strong data and systems thinking.
• Tech-Savvy Innovation: We’re looking for someone who sees technology as a tool to drive efficiency, equity, and clarity. Your ability to leverage modern tools and improve systems will be highly valued.
• Team Development: As a supervisor, you’ll lead and mentor the Office Assistant 2 team, building career pathways and helping team members grow through training, meaningful assignments, and coaching.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: From budgeting and HR to policy development and interdepartmental partnerships, you’ll be a connector and collaborator—working closely with Administrative Services and Parks Division staff alike.

Key Projects You’ll Support:

• Development of the biennial and supplemental budgets
• Annual revision of the Park Fee Ordinance
• Department-wide hiring plan
• Policies, procedures, and process

This is more than a managerial role—it’s a chance to shape the systems behind a department that brings joy, connection, and wellness to our community every day. If you’re ready to bring your strategic mind, systems savvy, and leadership skills to a role where they’ll make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Why It's a Great Department:

Pierce County Parks and Recreation manages over 5,200 acres of open space, trails, developed and undeveloped parks. We provide recreation programs and infrastructure in active and passive parks and trails. The department consists of three divisions: Parks and Recreation, Administration, and Resource Stewardship. Our mission is to be a leader in creating livable communities by providing opportunities for people to connect with nature, learn about sustainable practices, live healthy lifestyles, and enjoy vibrant community spaces.

Learn more about the Pierce County Parks and Recreation Department

How to be Successful in the Role:

We seek an approachable, adaptable, and communicative leader capable of seamlessly transitioning from immediate operational needs to the development of long-term strategic plans. We're looking for someone who proactively seeks opportunities to refine processes and takes initiative in creative problem-solving. Your strong communication abilities will be instrumental in establishing clear expectations, ensuring accountability, and driving continuous improvement. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment with constantly shifting priorities, possesses exceptional communication skills, is detail-oriented, and contributes effectively within a team environment.

Your Future in this Role:

This is a great role with varied activities supporting business processes with community engagement that touches everyone who lives or works in Pierce County. Pierce County offers professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Manage and oversee the daily administrative operations of a small department or division of a large department.
• Assign, review and approve the work of subordinate staff; investigate grievances involving subordinates and recommend resolution; recommend hiring, promotional and disciplinary actions; approve leave requests and overtime; provide adequate coverage during staff absences.
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of laws, rules, policies and procedures.
• Assist in developing and implementing operating procedures consistent with regulations controlling departmental activities; develop and prepare training manuals and facilitate training to ensure consistent and proper procedures are followed.
• Oversee and establish data collection and billing procedures; verify billing and other accounting related activities; assist staff in resolving complex accounting related problems.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

• Additional education or experience may substitute equally for the position requirements
• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in business or public administration or a related field
• Two or more years of experience in an administrative position requiring budgetary and personnel skills
• Submit a cover letter with your application. Failure to attach this will result in an incomplete application.

Special Requirements and/or Qualifications

• A valid Washington State driver’s license may be required when travel is required of the position

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Supplemental Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County place people are proud to call home?

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our Leadership Training Program, and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)

After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.

Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:

During years 1-3, 12 Days

During years 4-7, 16 Days

During years 8-13, 20 Days

During years 14-18, 23 Days

During years 19, 24 Days

During years 20, 25 Days

During years 21, 26 Days

During years 22, 27 Days

During years 23, 28 Days

During years 24, 29 Days

During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.

Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:

Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:

Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:

New Year's Day - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January

President's Day - Third Monday in February

Memorial Day - Last Monday in May

Juneteenth - June 19

Independence Day - July 4

Labor Day - First Monday in September

Veteran's Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after

Christmas Day - December 25

Personal Holidays:

Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:

Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:

Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:

Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the Pierce County Health Benefits website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:

Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security:

All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Miscellaneous Benefits:

Please visit Pierce County's Benefits website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:

Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy here.

• All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.

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